The ultimate seal of approval for a player prior to joining Manchester United used to be that they had performed against them.
In the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, it is impressing United managers past and present. Ferguson had Marouane Fellaini man-marked and put Ji-sung Park on Ander Herrera, a player whom David Moyes failed to recruit and Louis van Gaal agreed to sign.
Ferguson could not convince Paul Pogba to stay and David Moyes was not around long enough to convince him to rejoin. Moyes and Van Gaal were smitten with the fantastical prospect of re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
Harry Maguire was scouted by Moyes, courted by Jose Mourinho, championed by Ferguson, and bought by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Mourinho ironically spoke disparagingly